KENOSHA, Wis. — The final homestand of the regular season started with chaos, a response and a late push from the Kingfish.

Kenosha overcame a four-run first inning from Battle Creek, answered with seven runs of its own in the bottom half and held on late for a 9-7 win over the Battle Jacks on Monday night at Historic Simmons Field. The victory opened the final home stretch of the year on a positive note for the ’Fish, who will close the two-game series against Battle Creek on Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. CT.

Battle Creek landed the first punch immediately. Brendan Thompson opened the game with a double, Marcus Dierks followed with an infield single and the Battle Jacks loaded the bases with nobody out. Thomas Cooper then reached on an error that allowed two runs to score, and Dayne Wimberly later delivered a two-run single to right to make it 4-0 before Kenosha had come to the plate.

But the Kingfish did not let the early deficit sit for long.

Kenosha’s offense erupted in the bottom of the first, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring seven times. Noah Alvarez walked, Matthew Cormier singled, Hunter Snyder drove in the first run with a single to right, and Bennett Shealor followed with a walk. Cole Ide then reached on an error that brought home two more runs and pulled Kenosha within one.

James Harrington tied the game with a sacrifice fly, and Will Matuszak delivered the swing that changed the inning. With two aboard, Matuszak launched a three-run homer to left field — his first of the season — to cap the seven-run frame and give Kenosha a 7-4 lead. Matuszak finished 2-for-3 with a homer, three RBIs, two runs and a walk.

From there, the game tightened. Battle Creek cut the deficit to one in the fourth when Dierks hit a two-run homer, trimming Kenosha’s lead to 7-6. The Battle Jacks kept threatening, but Michael Guerrero gave the Kingfish major length out of the bullpen after Jake Storey’s short start. Guerrero worked 5 2/3 innings, struck out eight and helped bridge the game into the late innings.

Battle Creek got within 7-7 in the eighth on a solo homer from AJ Lucas, but Kenosha immediately answered in the bottom half. Matuszak walked, Brian Gould followed with a walk, and Alvarez singled to right to bring home Matuszak and put the Kingfish back in front. Cormier then added a sacrifice fly to score Gould, giving Kenosha two crucial insurance runs and a 9-7 lead.

Jason Ban took it from there. He entered in the eighth and recorded the final four outs without allowing a hit, striking out three of the five batters he faced. Ban earned the win, while Kenosha’s pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts on the night.

The Kingfish did not need a huge hit total to win it — they finished with eight hits — but they made their traffic count. Alvarez reached three times and scored, Cormier drove in a pair, Snyder added an RBI, Ide drove in two, Harrington added a sacrifice fly and Matuszak supplied the biggest blow of the night.

Battle Creek finished with 10 hits, including homers from Dierks and Lucas, but Kenosha’s immediate first-inning response and late eighth-inning answer were enough to hold off the Battle Jacks in the series opener.

The two teams close the series Tuesday night at Simmons Field. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. CT.

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